French Bulldog

A light-colored French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is a dog breed that first emerged in France in the mid- to late 19th century.

History

In the nineteenth century, the Bulldog was fairly popular in England, especially around Nottingham. Some of these Bulldogs were quite small, weighing less than 25 pounds. When many of the lace workers of the region went to France for work in the mid 1800's, they took their "Toy" Bulldogs with them. The French women, especially, were attracted to these little Bulldogs, especially those with erect ears (a common but disliked feature in England). Dog dealers brought more of the clownish little dogs to France, where they soon became the rage of Paris. The dogs were dubbed Bouledogue Francais. French breeders sought to consistently produce the erect "bat ears," much to the chagrin of English breeders. By the late 1800's, the breed had caught the attention of the upper class and had moved into some of the finer homes in France. Around this same time, American vistors to France brought several back to America and began to breed the dogs in earnest. Amid continued controversy over which ear type was correct, an American club was formed and, in 1898, sponsored one of the most elegant dog shows (just for French Bulldogs) ever held. The gracious setting attracted wealthy spectators, and the Frenchie had soon conquered America. Their popularity among high society soared, and by 1913 they were among the most popular show dogs in America. The breed still boasts some of the most elite and ardent fans in dogdom.

The French Bulldog is a clown in a lapdog. It enjoys playing and entertaining its family, as well as cuddling and snoozing with its favorite person. It is amiable, sweet, companionable, and willing to please.

Temperament

The French Bulldog is a gentle breed that typically has a happy-go-lucky attitude. Like many other companion dog breeds they require close contact with humans. They have fairly minimal exercise needs, but do require at least regular daily walks. Sedentary Frenchies can tend to become obese. Their calm nature makes them excellent choices for apartment dwellers, as does their usually sensible attitude towards barking. As flat faced breed, it is essential that owners understand that French Bulldogs can not live outdoors. Their bulk and their comprised breathing system makes it impossible for them to regulate their temperature efficiently, and many a family pet has passed away after being accidentally locked outside on a hot day. Be cautious when excercising your Frenchie during hot or humid weather, as well.

French Bulldogs can play too roughly for some smaller children, and should be monitored at all times during play. As well, children should be cautioned not to pick French Bulldogs up, as their size can mask how truly heavy they actually are.

French Bulldogs are essentially a bull and terrier breed, and as such, it is not surprising to learn that canine agression can sometimes occurr. Generally, this takes the form of same sex aggression, with the bitches being the most culpable in this respect. Owners considering adding a second dog to their household are usually cautioned to choose one of the opposite sex. Spaying or neutering can do much to curb agressive tendencies before they begin.

French Bulldogs can be stubborn, and early and consistent obedience training is highly recommended. Housebreaking can be problematic, and crate training is generally the only effecient method to ensure your carpeting isn't ruined for life.

In general, Frenchies are aimiable, good natured, playful dogs, and make excellent companions for families, single persons and the elderly.

Health

There are several congenital diseases and conditions that French Bulldogs are prone to, although they are still considered among the healthiest of the Bull Breeds. Frenchies can suffer from Von Willebrand's disease (VWD), a bleeding syndrome similar to to Hemophilia in humans which can impede their clotting. In conjunction to this, French Bulldogs may also suffer from thyroid condition. Many breeders follow a program of testing younger dogs for VWD, and only testing for thyroid at that time if the VWD factor is low. In this program, the breeder tests thyroid again just prior to using the dog for breeding. Other breeders test both VWD and Thyroid at the same time.

French Bulldogs suffer from Brachycephalic syndrome, which is what creates the charming flat faced appearance of the Frenchie. As a result, one of the most common defects in French Bulldogs is elongated soft palate or cleft palate. Puppies affected with Cleft palate are generally put down at birth, as it is generally considered to be an almost impossible condition to correct. Elongated soft palate can manifest as anything from a mild condition causing labored breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected dog to pass out from moderate exercise.

French Bulldogs can also suffer from a conditon called megaesophagus, a term which collectively describes several esophageal disorders and malformations in any combination from single-to-double or multiple. One of the most disgusting possibilities in a dog affected with megaesophagus is passive regurgitation, in which the affected dog vomits up food or phlegm after eating or exercise. A frequent and sometimes lethal complication of passive regurgitation is aspiration pneumonia.

Brindle is a more common color for the French Bulldog.

Another result of the compacted air way of the French Bulldog is their inability to effectively regulate temperature. While a regular canine may suffer to some degree from the heat, to a Frenchie it may be lethal. It is imperative that they be protected from temperature extremes at all times, and that they always have access to fresh water and shade.

French Bulldogs can also suffer from an assortment of back and spinal diseases, most of which are probably related to the fact that they were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples of the Bulldog Breed. This condition is also referred to as chondrodysplasia. Some breeders feel that only dogs that have been X-rayed and checked for spinal anomalies should be bred from, but this is a difficult position to take sides on. While it is true that no dog affected with a spinal disease should be bred from , there is a great deal of variance in the appearance of a French Bulldog's spine as compared to, for example, a Labrador Retriever. If possible, such decisions should be left to either a Vet or breeder who has seen quite a few Bulldog Breed Spinal Xrays, to avoid eliminating dogs unnecessarily.

In North America, French bulldogs frequently require Caesarean section to give birth. As well, many North American French Bulldog stud dogs are incapable of naturally breeding, requiring breeders to undertake artificial insemination of bitches. French Bulldog bitches can also suffer from erratic or 'silent' heats.

Those considering the purchase of a French Bulldog would be well advised to ask what disorders breeders are testing for, and beware of any breeder who cavalierly states that "They don't have any of those problems in *their* lines." Reputable breeders are struggling to produce dogs that are as healthy as possible, and while these tests are expensive for the breeder to do, they can help to save the puppy purchaser hundreds or even thousands of dollars in potential vet bills.

History

The breed emerged as English Bulldogs were bred with Toy Bulldogs by the artistic community in Paris, after Toy Bulldogs were marginalized by British kennel clubs as weakening the English Bulldog breed. Toy Bulldogs were popular amongst the artistic and gay communities in Britain. The breeding of the minuscule Toy Bulldog (averaging 8 pounds (3.5 kg)) and the English Bulldog (which can vary in size, but is usually around 50 pounds (23 kg)) produced the medium-sized French Bulldog.

A rare French Bulldog coloring: Black Mask Fawn

French ladies of the evening were known to carry French bulldogs around town as a discreet sign of their profession. The Tsar's family in Russia is believed to have had a French bulldog as a beloved family pet at the time of their overthrow.

Books

• Michael Rosser, Ann Winsor, D.V.M Arlie Amorie Alford and Jane Flowers. Celebrating Frenchies, ARDesign Inc., ISBN 0966013352
• Durr-Grebe, Janice. Flat Face Encyclopedia: Bulldogs and French bulldogs, A to Z, ARDesign Inc., ISBN 0966013301
• Dannel, Kathy. The French Bulldog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet, Barron's Educational Series, ISBN 0764130315
• Coile, Dr. Caroline. French Bulldogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual), Howell Book House, ISBN 158245163X
• McDonald,Joan. The Book of the Bulldog, Neptune, NJ:TFH Publications, ISBN 0-86622-027-5
• Jenkins, Robert. The Story of the Real Bulldog Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications, ISBN 0-7938-0491-4

Magazines and Manuals

French Bullytin website
24+ years in print. The premier magazine for French Bulldog lovers worldwide.
1134 Grand Avenue
St Paul, MN 55150

Just Frenchies website
Quarterly breed magazine for French Bulldog fanciers
PO Box 518
Clora Dorsey Road
Trappe, MD 21673